ARSENAL are set to return for French international Etienne Capoue this summer after seeing their January deadline day bid rejected by Toulouse.

The Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is expected to be active in the transfer market this summer, as he scours the globe for reinforcements ahead of next season with a reported £70m budget at his disposal.

While goalkeeper and striker are thought to be positions of interest to the Frenchman, a defensive midfielder is likely to be the priority with Mikel Arteta holding fort in the anchorman role this season.

Capoue's agent revealed that Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR tried to sign his client in January, but Toulouse were unwilling to sell.

The Frenchman was thought to be close to a move to the Gunners in January

We were close to one more signature. It was not a money problem – it was more a desire from the other club to keep their player

Arsene Wenger

And Wenger hinted that the 24-year-old nearly moved to the Emirates when he admitted: "We were close to one more signature. It was not a money problem – it was more a desire from the other club to keep their player."

Alex Song has yet to be properly replaced at Arsenal since his £15m switch to Barcelona last summer, and Capoue - who has five caps for France - would fill the void he left in North London.

Capoue could be secured for around €12m (£10.2m), with the Gunners also tracking Celtic's Victor Wanyama, Lyon's Maxime Gonalons and Newcastle's Cheick Tiote.